Shuttle guard for looms



Aug. 30, 1949. GOURLAY 2,4g@,545

SHUTTLE GUARD FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 22, 1947 MA /e WV 17. 6004mm Dive/w Me afar;

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE GUARD FOR LOOMS Martin D. Gourlay, Utica, N. Y.

Application August 22, 1947, Serial No. 770,135

2 Claims. (Cl. 139- 1 93) I My invention relates to a shuttle guard .m'r

looms, and I declare the following tobe a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof sufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters refer to like parts throughout.

The object of the invention is to provide a guard for all types of looms to prevent the shuttle from flying off its regular shuttle race or normal course across the loom and injuring a person. The guard is also serviceable in deflecting the shuttle back to its normal course when it tends to fly off into space.

The guard is made of a transparent plastic material, such as Lucite, whereby not to obstruct the vision of the weaver or interfere with the drawing of threads through the reed. Furthermore, the guard is mounted in such manner that it can be swung to inoperative position to allow the weaver to draw threads through the reed as occasion requires. It will return automatically to operative position when the loom starts.

Heretofore, shuttles used in looms occasionally fly off into space and hit the Weaver or persons nearby with considerable force and thereby severely injuring said persons. The present invention is designed; to overcome this fault and hold the shuttle to its normal race or course across the loom.

The invention can be readily attached to any make of loom.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a side view of the guard attached to the reed cap or hand rail of the loom, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective of the guard assembled to the reed cap of the loom, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the guard attached to the reed cap and its relation to other contiguous parts of the loom.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of bracket employed.

Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged view showing a sectional view of the brackets employed in the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the guard I is imperforated and made of a transparent plastic, such as Lucite. It is sufiiciently strong to withstand any strain caused by the shuttle striking thereagainst. It is of rectangular shape extending the entire length of the lay 2 of the loom. Its width is sufiicient to prevent the shuttle 3 from escaping from its normal path across the lay 2.

The means for attaching the guard I to the reed cap or handrail 5 of the loom embodies brackets 6 attached at suitable intervals to the guard I by rivets .I. Said brackets 6 are wedgeshaped, whereby the guard I can move into parallel relation with rail 5 when swung up into inoperative position. Brackets 6 and I6 will hold guard I at an angle as shown in Fig. 1 to the? path or race of the shuttle 3. It extends downward, however, suificiently far to form a lateral closure to the race way of shuttle 3.

Brackets 6 cooperate with brackets I6 fastened by screws or bolts I I to rail 5 which are also made wedge-shaped. The enlarged portions of brackets 6 and ID are contiguous with one another. Bracket 6 has formed therein a recess I5 for the projection of part I6 of bracket I!) and bracket It! has a recess I! for the projection of part I8 of bracket 6. Aligned apertures are made through the contiguous parts of brackets 6 and II) for the disposition of a headed pivot pin 20. Head or nut 2| is screw threaded or held by a tight fit to pin 20 after the parts are assembled. A coil spring 25 is disposed about pin 26 and rests at one end against head 26 and at the opposite end against the contiguous surface of bracket II], whereby to exert a push on bracket I6 and a pull on bracket 6 to hold them in contact especially when in locked position,

When guard I is swung to upper or inoperative position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the tension of springs 25 alone will hold it in inoperative position. When the loom is started the jar caused by the lay 2 beating against the cloth 2! will overcome the tension of springs 25 and cause guard I to fall down automatically into operative position before the first pick of the shuttle illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3. The guard I can be moved into inoperative position by pushing it to the right as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to release the projections 66 and I8 from their respective recesses and then swinging it up into dotted line position as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of the guard is effected by attaching brackets ID to rail 5 and brackets 6 to guard I and inserting pins 20 with spring 25 thereon through the aligned apertures in brackets 6 and I0 and fastening heads 2| to the free ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and as above stated the jarring of the loom itself will cause guard I to fall down into operative position, illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. In the event shuttle 3 should be deflected from its normal course across the lay 2 as it carries the weft thread, not shown, in between the warp threads 30, 3| which aid in forming the fabric 21 it will strike against the guard l which will deflect it back to its normal path or raceway. Guard 1 is made transparent so that the weaver can observe the weaving of the fabric 21 at all times and the general operatibm of the loom.

In place of the hinged bracket 6" a one piece bracket 32 may be employed to hold guard, l rigidly in place. The reed is shown at 33 and the lay sword at 34.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a shuttle guard for a loom, an imperforate V transparent member, whereby to prevent the shuttle from escaping: therepast, brackets attached to said member; other brackets attached. to said loom, pivotak pins projecting operative-position, projections; formed? in each of said pair of brackets, cooperating" recesses formed in each of said pairs of brackets for the reception of said projections, and spring means mounted on. said pivotal pins for holding said Number projections within said recesses, whereby to lock imperiorate member in operative position. MARTIN D. GOURLAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patentz UNITED sums PATIENTS Name' Date: White Apr. 153 1924 Dinner Nov. 27",1945 Gill et' a'l' Mar. 19 L946 FOREIGN PATENTS (Dountry Date Great Britain 1894 Number 

